TRAIL Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'trail' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of trail are chase , follow , and pursue . While all these words mean "to go after or on the track of something or someone," trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object. // trail deer // trailed a suspect across the country

Q: When would 'chase' be a good substitute for 'trail'?

While in some cases nearly identical to trail , chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running. // a dog chasing a cat

Q: When is it sensible to use 'follow' instead of 'trail'?

The meanings of follow and trail largely overlap; however, follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake. // friends followed me home in their car

Q: Where would 'pursue' be a reasonable alternative to 'trail'?

The words pursue and trail can be used in similar contexts, but pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain. // pursued the criminal through narrow streets

trail 1 of 2

noun

Definition of trail

as in path

a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps took a trail through the woods to get to the main road

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in track

a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it the slugs left a slimy trail on the sidewalk

Synonyms & Similar Words

trail

2 of 2

verb

ˈtrāl

as in to track

to go after or on the track of we trailed our friend into the woods, inadvertently spoiling his plans for a solitary hike

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word trail distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of trail are chase, follow, and pursue. While all these words mean "to go after or on the track of something or someone," trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer

trailed a suspect across the country

When would chase be a good substitute for trail?

While in some cases nearly identical to trail, chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running.

a dog chasing a cat

When is it sensible to use follow instead of trail?

The meanings of follow and trail largely overlap; however, follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

Where would pursue be a reasonable alternative to trail?

The words pursue and trail can be used in similar contexts, but pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of trail

Noun

The county plans to transform the site into Delco Woods, a park with paved hiking paths, mountain bike trails and a dog park. — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Mendonça Filho was at Marrakech last year while on the awards trail with The Secret Agent, which won best director in Cannes and then went on to clinch two Golden Globes and four Oscar nominations. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026

Verb

Green, who won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, is being asked to get down the floor faster and not trail the play. — Jessica Golden,alex Sherman, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026 Portland's Damian Lillard is back this season and trails James by only nine 3s tried for that third-place spot. — CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail

Noun

Plans also incorporate a 10-foot-wide paved side path along the school side of the corridor, providing a separated walking and biking trail.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Baltzor, and hired riders, had to hoof it through heavy smoke into the mountains to extract their cattle from the path of the fires.

— Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of path

Noun

Still, the best track on Alchemical Sisters is the one that feels the least referential.

— Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
The 11-track set finds the Scottish trio of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty turning a more pointed eye toward British identity and the country’s darker social realities.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of track

Verb

Rather than chasing fancy titles or splashy paychecks throughout her career, she’s gravitated toward jobs that pushed her out of her comfort zone, forced her to take risks, and taught her to embrace a little chaos.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
At Fox, the viewer is the star, or at least the north star, the thing that everyone is chasing.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of chase

Noun

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,190-mile footpath across the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2026
The 400-year span starts with the Lenape footpath and works its way up to today, when one of the last Bowery artists, Billy Sullivan, has painted the denizens as part of a massive installation of portraits.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of footpath

Noun

Either way, scientists anticipate finding traces of Mars on Phobos, making the samples an irresistible two-for-one that should help demystify planetary and moon formation.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Its proximity to Mars means there is a chance MMX might scoop up traces of the red planet itself that rained down on Phobos after its formation or capture.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of trace

Verb

As of Thursday morning, the government had filed charging documents in 10 of the 28 cases, offering additional details about how authorities relied on voter registration data to pursue broader criminal charges around immigration status.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
L3Harris is pursuing an air-breathing ramjet design intended to improve fuel efficiency and extend engagement distances.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of pursue

Noun

Sixteen candidates are competing for three at-large seats on the Los Angeles Community College District board, with broad agreement that students need more support for basic needs and pathways to good-paying jobs.

— Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
About a fourth of voters – over 500,000 Albertans – wanted another vote, the first step on a pathway towards secession from Canada.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of pathway

Cite this Entry

Style

“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trail. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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